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Nobody ever said that entrepreneurship is easy. Customer acquisition, fear of failure, building a brand, money management and balancing quality and growth are just a few of the challenges that small business owners and entrepreneurs face every day.

One method to follow when you get frustrated or think you’ll never succeed is to research the strategies of successful entrepreneurs, start-up founders and inspirational leaders. Here, we compiled 10 quotes and lessons learned from some of the most successful modern entrepreneurs and leaders.

Eric Ries

Eric Ries is the author of “The Lean Startup,” and is one of the founders of IMVU.

Ries’s quote reminds entrepreneurs that sometimes it’s necessary to take a “test and learn” approach. Experimentation is a valuable tool for determining the efficacy of a new product or service. Don’t be afraid to perform business experiments. Some experiments might pay off; others might fail. Nonetheless, you’ll gain valuable insight and data.

Aaron Levie

Aaron Levie is one of the founders of Box, launched in 2005. Box is a file sharing and cloud content management service.

I discovered this quote when reading “The Way I Work: Aaron Levie, Box” at Inc. Magazine. It reminds me that startups must move at the speed of light. They don’t have time for bureaucracy, politics and pontification. Entrepreneurs must invent simple solutions for complex problems. When nonsense slows them down, strong leadership prevails.

Tony Hsieh

Tony Hsieh is an entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He is the CEO of the clothing and shoe online retailer, Zappos.com.

Zappos is known for their incredible culture and happy employees. What I find inspiring about Hsieh’s quote is that he understands and embraces the intangible value of happiness. This quote is a great reminder that employee happiness and engagement leads to profits and success.

Elon Musk

Elon Musk is an entrepreneur, investor and engineer. He is the CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors.

Success takes time; it doesn’t happen overnight. Many entrepreneurs are innately impatient, and this can actually be an amazing quality because they push their employees to success. However, if entrepreneurs are too impatient, they might give up before seeing the success they deserve.

Bel Pesce

Bel Pesce is an accomplished author and has launched several startups, including Ooyala and Lemon Wallet. She is the founder of the FazINOVA school, a private business school founded in 2013.

This quote is from Pesce’s TED Talk entitled, “5 Ways to Kill Your Dreams.” It’s a great reminder that it’s human nature to become complacent when you’re experiencing success. Pesce’s quote reminds entrepreneurs that it’s necessary to keep pushing even after they’ve reached their initial goals.

Chip Conley

Chip Conley reached success by building Joie de Vivre Hospitality, which is a boutique hotel and restaurant company based in San Francisco. He is an accomplished author and inspirational speaker. I encourage you to watch Conley’s TED talks. They are both inspiring and educational for business leaders or anyone else who wants to find joy in their lives.

Conley has discovered the importance of emotional intelligence and how it enhances leadership ability. This quote reminds entrepreneurs to examine emotions when making decisions — data, facts, risk and complexity are not the only factors to consider.

Reid Hoffman

Reid Hoffman is best known as one of the founders of the social networking site for business people, LinkedIn.

This quote reminds business leaders that at times it becomes necessary to re-invent to stay relevant. The competitive landscape changes, the market shifts or new opportunities present themselves, which makes transformation inevitable.

An example that immediately comes to mind is the shift from print to digital media. The Atlantic is a great example of a company that successfully made a transformation. The magazine was founded in 1857. They embraced a digital-first strategy to stay relevant in a dying print magazine industry and are currently successful, reporting revenue highs in Q1, 2015.

Sara Blakely

This quote is a great reminder that entrepreneurs can learn from anyone. Business owners and leaders should take every opportunity to learn from customers, mentors, employees or peers and to embrace the knowledge that’s gained. Being open to a new point of view or perspective can be gold.

Jimmy Wales

I first heard this quote when watching a 60 Minutes Interview. Morley Safer asked Jimmy Wales why he passed up billions by making Wikipedia a nonprofit. I was intrigued by his humbleness and by how he’s embraced the meaningfulness of his work. The lesson learned? Never lose sight of why you created your business. Find meaning in your work.

Arianna Huffington

In her book, Becoming Fearless, Huffington discusses the challenges of being assertive and aggressive, specifically for female leaders. This quote is a great reminder for business leaders — especially those who are introverts. When it’s the right time, speak up, be assertive and conquer your fears.

Make the Leap

As an entrepreneur or business leader, what’s holding you back? The next time you need inspiration, think about the ten ideas you read about today.

Test and Learn

Move at the Speed of Light

Embrace Happiness

Be Patient

Push to a Higher Peak

Tap into Emotions

Constantly Re-invent

Never Stop Learning

Don’t Lose Perspective

Be Fearless

Is there something you liked about this story? Is there a quote that inspires you? Let us know in the comments.